Abstract
BackgroundThere is a lack of genetic knowledge among health care professionals especially in some developing countries such as Indonesia. Based on our experience, genetic disorders receive less attention in medical education and professionals. This study aims to determine the familiarity and literacy of genetics among medical students in Indonesia.MethodsA total of 1003 Indonesian medical (pre-clinical and clinical) students completed the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Genetics (REAL-G) questionnaire with a total score of seven for familiarity and eight for genetic literacy. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the familiarity and genetic literacy scores between pre-clinical and clinical students.ResultsThe average scores of familiarity and genetic literacy were 5.63 ± 0.96 and 6.37 ± 0.83, respectively. Genetic familiarity was higher (p = 0.043) among clinical students than pre-clinical students, while there was no significant difference in genetic literacy (p = 0.362) between pre-clinical and clinical students. Genetic familiarity does not impact the level of genetic literacy. However, medical students’ genetic literacy is influenced by demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, university type, genetic learning experience, university accreditation, and university location.ConclusionsIn general, Indonesian medical students have relatively good familiarity and literacy in genetics although further study is necessary to accurately measure the genetic familiarity and literacy in medical students and general public.
Highlights
There is a lack of genetic knowledge among health care professionals especially in some developing countries such as Indonesia
As the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Genetics (REAL-G) questionnaire was not applied in study with health professional as respondents, we compared our results from different studies with other tools such as Genomic Nursing Concept Inventory (GNCI) or other self-made questionnaire for nutritionist. [9, 10] In general, our respondents had higher genetic literacy score there is limited genetic service even in tertiary hospitals in Indonesia
This study evaluated the difference between familiarity and genetic literacy scores among students from different university’s accreditation levels
Summary
Genetic and genomic technologies have been rapidly developing in low- and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region [1]. This development affects genetic-related health services such as ordering genetic testing, confirming a diagnosis, providing genetic counseling, making a risk assessment, and offering treatment options. The growing need for medical genetic and Genetic services in Indonesia are relatively challenging, with limited facilities and expertise [1, 3]. Another obstacle in developing genetic services in Indonesia is the national policy, which prioritizes infant and maternal mortality rates, stunting, tuberculosis, complete primary immunization, and non-communicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer [4].
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